Can opener



2 Sheets-Sheefa 1 ATTORNEY fyen 4, 1936, H. L. DAZEY CAN OPENER Filed Aug. 16, 1954 Feb 4, 193%. H. i.. www

CAN OPENER Filed Aug. 16, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ...A Am' man JNVENTOR. A HHRRY .DHZEY BY Z ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 4,V a d UN'IT ,A `Harry IafDaaey, St. Louis, Mo., assigner tovDaley' l -Churn & Manufacturing Co., St. Louis, Mc...

" corporation of Missouri-,pv ,f f j Another yobject of theinventionj is to provide,`

in a can opener, a blade element which adjusts itself to irregularities, such as seamsordents in the -can wall, and thereby is adapted to sever the metal extremely close to anf adjacent wall por- `tion even though such adjacent wall portion contains a seam or other irregularity." `'Tlhis feature is very desirable, since, when a can is opened Vby the present device, no sharp projectionsremain as a partof the `container to cutj` or otherwise injure the user. v

The lforegoing objectives are attained `by Vthe provision-of an improved blade mounting which permits the blade to yield sumciently to pass an enlarged or irregular portion ofthe bead adjacent to which the blade may be operating. A further obj ectylies in the provisionof an improved mechanism for holding a container in proper operative engagement with the feeder roll. Other objects and advantages will appear' from the followingdescription and drawingswherein: Fig. 1 is a side elevationof the device of my invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentalplan view illustrating means for attaching the device to a supportingstructure; Fig. 3` is a fragmental side elevation showing parts ofthe operating mechanisml as viewed from `the'side opposite to the view of Fig. l; Fig. 4 isV afragmfental side elevation with the actuating handlejfo'rthe rol1er1-removed; Fig.

5 is anend4 viewof 'the device; Fig. `6 `is a 'secav tional elevation taken atlinewS-Bhof Fig. Lande Fig. '1 is a sectional plan view taken at line 1-1 of Fig. 1, showing the hold-down device.

Referring now by characters of reference to- '-the'drawings, the operatingmechanvism of the device is preferablyvniounted `on a at,substan tiallyrectangular base plate I0 which is` arranged o to be removably secured toa wall or other supporting structure `by the means illusirateduin Figs. 1 and 2. Such means are fully described 'r U. S. Letters Patent toT. A. Kiliman, No.*Re.' 16,957, dated May:8, 192`8,1and brief-1y; include a l5 5".'.,tralieziforru plate II, securedjatright 'angles to (creo- 3)` l n a thelbase plate Ill at 4one endthereof. .Plate II is adapted to be wedged between relatively converging channels I2 formed at opposite edges of abracket platel I3 whichfmay `be permanently fastened to awall orgother support as bymeans 'gA of screws 1I4. d

Describing now the means for supporting the canv and feeding. the can metal into cutting engagement Wahine blade, the base pate. lo 1s provided near its outer or free end with a cir- 1 cular aperture in which is journalled a disc I5 (Fig. 6),ofk thickness., approximating that of the base plate III. ',Thedisc I5 is held forv rotation in the aforesaidaperture between discs I6 and I1, which are of greaterdiameter than, 13 and disposed concentric with disc I5. The` disc I1 is lprovided with af radial projection forming a handle I8, and rotation of disc I1, as by means of handle I8, is imparted to the disc I5 and I6 which are fixed for rotation with disc I1. Joint 20 rotation of the said discs is secured by forming an aperture in disc I5,"`and upsettingor punching the 'discs I6 and I1 to cause the metal thereof to enter such` aperture, `all of which is indicated at I9. Eccentrically Adisposed relative to 25 the 'disci assembly, and` projecting transversely therethrough, is an externally threaded sleeve 20 in `which is journalled the feeder roll shaft 2|'. The sleeve 20 is xed tothe discs I5, I6 and I1, and secures thesametogetherbetween acollar 30 22, integral with the s1eeve,.and a nut 23, threaded on the sleeve. The shaft` 2|.terminates at one end in the feed roll 24, consisting of a hard metal disc having a toothed peripheral surface, the roll 24`bein`g suitably fixed for rotation by 35 the shaft 2l. A crank'25, keyed to the .opposite end of the shaft and secured thereto by a nut 26, serves manually to drive the feed roll 24.

` Describing now, an improved hold down mechanism `which `operates to .maintain a can 40 in operating engagement withthe feed'roll, such mechanismembodies an arm 21 which is pivotally'connected at one end to the base plate I0 through thejagency ofa stub shaft 28 yprojecting laterally from the plane of the base plate. The 45 arm 21 is bent`laterally, forming a portion 29 thereof which over-lies the feed roll 24and such portion ofthe arm isn arranged, for spring-biasedmovement toward andfrom `thelfeed roll. Pivotal movement of arm 21 in a direction away 50 projectingfrcm the base plate I tand spaced from I the arm portion 29.

of which leg portion the stub shaft 28, engages the leaf spring and maintains the same in stressed condition against The disc I6 provides a stop for the arm 21, limiting its range of movement toward the feed roll. provided with a recess 32 through which a blade, or cutter element 33 projects, the arm thereby serving as a guard wich efectually prevents a user from injuring himself on the sharpportion of the blade. Describing now the blade element and mounting therefor, such mounting includes a U-shaped bracket 34, secured to the base plate l as by rivets 35. Journalled for pivotal movement on a pin 36 which extends between and .across the leg portions 31 of bracket`34 is a saddle element 38, t which element is secured, as by rivets 39, the blade 33.` By preference'k the blade element 33 comprises a horse-shoe magnet, the rivets 39 extendingthrough one leg portion 4,0 thereis of greater length lthan its companion portion 4|, the en d of leg portion 40 being suitably sharpened to provide a cutting edge. From Fig. 6 it will appear that `blade portion 40 Aof the magnet lies in a plane parallel to the plane of the outer end face'of. feed roll 24, and is spaced outwardly from' such end face a distance-approximating thewidth of the sealing bead 42 which is-provided on all containers of conventional type.l The magnet portion 4| extends to a point adjacent the cutting portion of the blade, andwith such latter portion attracts and retains any metal fragments 'which may be severed during a cutting operation.` Y

' The lower, or'cutting end of blade portion 4| is adapted to rock in a clockwise direction (Fig. 6)' from anormal, limitposition in'whichsuch blade portion is disposed vat right angles to the axis of the feed roll. It` will appear that move# ment of the blade element in the direction specied increases the spacing of the bladey and feed roll. The normal operating position of theblade member is fixed by stop lugs 43 projecting upwardly from the bracket 34, which lugs form abutments for laterally projecting ears 44 von the saddle 38. lThesaddle is urged into its normal position wherein ears 44abut lugs 43, by a'spring 45, which may be of any suitable type.` In'the present example, a substantial U-shaped leaf spring is employed, opposite ends of such spring being secured to the bracket and saddle members by rivets 35 and 3 9, respectively. i

rThe handle I8, by which the position of the feed` wheel relative to the blade is adjusted (through the agency of the eccentric Vmounting for the feed roll shaft) has two major` positions. Preparatory to introducing a can into the device, th'e handle |8 is'moved to the position shown in Figs. l and 5. .When insuchposition the upper peripheral surface of thel feed wheel is spaced downwardly f romv the lower extremity of the bladeto permit the sealing bead on the canto be inserted therebetween. With'the toothed surface of the feed roll engaging the sealing bead, the handle |8 is turned through.180 causing the feed wheel, and hence the can, to be Vmoved toward the blade, and ,causing the blade to penetrate the container '(Fig. 6) at a point immediately adjacent the inner surface of the bead.

'I'he container is held in frictional engagement.

with the toothed'surface of thelfeed roll by the hold down arm 21 which presses upon then upper edge ofthe container head, as previously described. When in full open, or can-receiving condition, (Figs. 1 and 5), a stop shoulder 46 on the The arm portion 29 is' container handle I8 abuts a stud 41 projecting from the base plate I0, such shoulder and stud cooperating to determine the position of handle I8 when the device is in open condition. Another stop shoulder 48 on the handle cooperates with a stud 49 projecting from the base plate to determine the handle position whenrthe device is in condition for'operation. on a container. .Means for temporarily locking-the device in the latter condition are provided, and in the present example such means include a recess in the handle which is adapted to seat a boss formed on the base plate I0, both indicated atll (Fig. 6).

Rotation `of thecrank 25 is imparted to the through -'themedium of the feed roll, such rotation of the can relative to the blade producing the desired results, or that oi severing the top wall from the container body. A lug portion 5|, projecting laterally from the base plate l0 for engagement lwith the side wall of the container, aids in maintaining the container in properposition for cutting, and further, prevents vibrationof the container which might occur during the cutting operation. In the event that the blade element encounters an obstruction during the cutting operation-such as a seam, dent Yor other agency forming a transverse enlargement of the bead,'instead of cutting through such obstruction the blade is'caused to rock, to increase itsspacing'relative to the feed roll, and thereby operates onfthe can wall clear of any deformation which would Votherwise tend unduly to retard the operation of the blade. Otherwise expressed, byA vvreason of the described blade mounting, the blade isadapted to follow closely the contour'of the inner periphery of the sealing bead, adjusting itself to any irregularities encountered therein during its course -of operation. Irregularities in4 the vertical, or axial dimensions of the bead are Lcompensated for by the yieldable hold down arm.

It will thus appear thatthe deviceof my invention is vadapted to operatel smoothly and easily, despite irregularities in the periphery of the c ontainer. While acan opener blade of magnetic type is herein shown and described, obviously any other suitable type of`blade may be employed. Since other variations may be effected, without departing from the scopeof my'invention, I do not wish to be limited to the exemplary construction herein shown and described, except as defined by the following claims.

yI claim:

1'. A can opener including in combination a base plate, a blade spaced from the plane of'the base plate, a feeder roll mounted for rotation ina plane between said bladeand base. plate, and means rockinglymounting said blade, on the base plate, including laterally projecting elements on said Y base pla-te and blade, and a pin pivotally connecting'said elementsthe blade being thereby adapted to rockin a direction `away from 'the feeder roll.

2. A can opener including incombination a base plate, a blade disposed laterally of the base plate, a feeder roll mounted for rotation in a plane intermediate the blade and base plate, and means for mounting the blade for rocking movement relativeto the feed roll, said means including a bracket secured to the base plate, a projection on said blade, a pin vpivotally connecting said projection and bracket, means forming a limit stop, defining a normal cutting position offthe blade relative to the feeder roll,.and a spring adapted ,Y yieldingly to hold the blade in normal position.

3. A can opener including in combination a base plate, a feeder roll spaced laterally of the base plate, a yieldable springbiased arm overlying the feeder roll, adapted to hold a can in operative engagement with the feeder roll, a blade element projecting toward the feeder roll, through a recess in said arm, and means mounting said blade for rocking movement in a plane parallel to the axis of the feed roll.

4. A can opener including in combination a base plate, a feeder roll spaced laterally of the base plate, a yieldable, spring-biased arm overlying the feeder roll adapted to hold a can in operative engagement therewith, a blade element projecting through a recess in the said arm, toward said feeder roll, means mounting said blade for rocking movement in a plane parallel to the axis of the feeder roll, and a spring disposed to resist rocking movement of the blade.

HARRY L. DAZEY. 

